Electric massage instrument.



J. E. GIBBS.

ELECTRIC MASSAGE INSTRUMENT.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR.13,1914

1,103,669. Patented July 14,1914.

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JAMES EDWIN GIBBS, OF CINCINNATT, 017110, ASSIG-ll'flft G15 ONE-HALF TO "WM. A. BYEEL'Y, OF BRIDGEW'ATER, VIRGINIA.

ELEUTRIG MASSAGE INSTRUMENT.

icence.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1d, 191%.

Application filed March 13, 1314. Serial No. 824,530.

September 2, 1913, No. 1,071,998, and the subject matter of the present application constitutes improvements in said device.

The object of the invent-ion is to provide in a hand operated massage roller such novel and peculiar construction and arrangement of a plurality of body contact elements with respect to a revoluble divided shaft for revolving the roller in connection with a source of electric supply, as to form an electric circuit through the shaft parts and the body contacts during the revolution of the roller in a massage operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a two-part shaft having a roller fixed thereto and revoluble in a supporting yoke or frame, a plurality of body contact elements radiating from the roller and in contact with the shaft, and means for electrically connecting the shaft.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a special frame composed of two parts so as to leave a space therebetween, and an insulating handle block preferably composed of wood fiber and having a project-ion fitting the said space.

Various other objects, special advantages,

yoke frame having a central opening for assembling and disassembling, repair and replacement of the parts.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this application :Figure 1 is a per spective view of the device. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a cross section of the roller taken through one set of the body contacts. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the body contacts and its holder. Fig. 5 is an inverted perspective view of the handle block.

The same reference characters denote the same parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In carrying out my invention I employ a 1 in the'top thereof so as to form. a space for a lug or projection 2, of a handle block 3 preferably composed of wood fiber and secured to the frame parts by screws 4, and a hand knob 5 is secured to the block by a screw bolt 6 extending through the lug 2 and the block and into the knob. The frame has depending side arms 7 terminating in sockets 8, and the top of the frame is provided with a pair of posts 9 for connecting electric wires 10, branched from an electric cable 11, which may be connected with any convenient electric source such as incandescent light fixtures or dry battery, but the posts 9 may be readily removed so that the device -may be used without said electric connecand has plurality of holes 14; radiating from the center of the roller, and each hole terminates in a circular concavity 15, larger than the holes 1 1, and extending from the periphery of the roller to the holes so as to form a shoulder 16. The body contact ele ments or fingers are composed preferably of copper rods 17 having a flaring, conical, or convexed head 18 for contact with the body in massage treatment, and said rods are anchored in the holes 141, in contact with the shaft by means of wooden sleeves 19, driven into the concavities 15, to the shoulder 16, and projecting from the periphery of the roller, and a pin 20 extending through the In assembling the parts, the shaft parts are driven into the roller, the rods 17. are secured in the sleeves 19 by the pins 20, thesleeves are then driven into the roller so that the inner ends of the rods engage.

the shaft, and the frame arms are sprung over the outer ends of the shaft parts for journaling said ends in the arm sockets.

In operating the device, electric connections having been made, an electric current is conducted by the frame parts through the respective shaft parts and through the shaft engaging rods .17 to the finger-heads 18. It is obvious that a self massage treatment on all or any parts of the body in various positions may be accomplished by proper manipulation of this device with or without electric currents.

While I have mentioned that the shaft is composed of steel, therodsof copper, the sleeves and roller of wood,,and the block of wood fiber, I do'not mean to limit myself to these particular materials, nor to the size of the roller, or the number of rods, but reserve to myself the right to make such changes and variations in the practical application-of my invention as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

' Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1- 1. A body massage instrument comprising a one piece roller having end sockets separated by an interior portion of the roller body, shafts fitting the end sockets and abutting against said portion, sockets extending from the periphery of the roller and terminating in shoulders, sleeves Supported by the shoulders and projecting from the roller, rods secured in the sleeves and having body contact heads projectingfrom the sleeves, and a frame in which the shafts are mounted.

2., In an electric massaging instrument, thecombina'tion with a frame divided centrally and having depending end sockets,

a block connecting the divided portions of the frame, a hand knob secured to the block, and a revoluble two-part shaft held by the sockets, of a roller fixed on the shaft, a plurality of sleeves secured in and projecting from the roller, and rods secured in the sleeves and-engagingthe shaft and having body contact heads, projecting from the outer end of the sleeves.

3. In an electric massaging instrument,the combination of a supporting frame having the top thereof divided crosswise, each por- Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor five cents each, by addressing the (Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

